Next wave of Onondaga Community College men's lacrosse players hope to mark their turf with title

Syracuse, N.Y. — Onondaga Community College men's lacrosse coach Chuck Wilbur has reached deep into his bag of motivational strategies to paint his team with the most improbable brush strokes possible.

The Lazers have won 85 games games in a row and seven of the last eight NJCAA national crowns. OCC will try to extend those numbers this weekend at the final four at Nassau Community College on Long Island.

So, of course, Wilbur slots his lacrosse machine, the one that enters the event 15-0, as the one with something to prove.

The evidence? Inexperience. Only two OCC players — goalie Warren Hill and midfielder Tim Barber — played in last year's title game. Overall, the Lazers lost 35 of 45 players from last season, leaving a lot of untested newcomers searching for their own identities as champions.

Or so Wilbur would have you believe.

"We have such a young team this year. Because of that, we have a lot to prove,'' Wilbur said. "They all have a chip on their shoulder. Each guy knows as long as they do their role, their role is so big and important to why we are successful.''

The Lazers will take on Anne Arundel Community College out of Maryland at 1 p.m. on Saturday. At 3:30 p.m., Essex meets Nassau in the other semifinal.

The championship game will be 1 p.m. Sunday.

Nassau, the team OCC beat in last year's final, likely looms as the Lazers' only potential headache. OCC hasn't yet played that team this season, but it dispatched Anne Arundel 19-4 and topped Essex 16-8.

"Everyone thinks we wake up and roll the ball out there and win championships,'' Wilbur said. "It's a lot easier said than done. We're going to have a tough weekend. You are always worried a little bit. We have such a young team and not a lot of stars.''

Two Lazers who reside in that neighborhood are Hill and Barber, both of whom have committed to play for Syracuse University next season. Hill leads the nation in save percentage (78.4) and goals-against average (4.06).

Barber, a former West Genesee star, is fourth in the country in points (83) and tied for fourth in goals (51). Midfielders Vaughn Harris and Ken Tomeno are right behind him with 73 points each.

Overall, the Lazers' fast-breaking attack has dispatched opponents by an average score of 29.4.

"They play so well together, and they play so hard no one cares about accolade stuff,'' Wilbur said. "State championships and national championships are what you want to do when you are growing up. When it comes down to it, these kids will be excited, flying around.''